Video: Grad student seeks balance, skates through school

May 06, 2009

Erin Parker, now in her second year of graduate school, has been wearing several hats while studying community counseling to become a therapist. Parker is well known to Portland roller derby fans as November Pain. Throughout her intense graduate program, Parker has managed to practice three to four days a week at the roller derby track and remains one of the highest-scoring jammers in the league.

“Initially, I hung up my skates to go to grad school,” Parker said, “but I realized I needed to fit in free time and self care to sustain my professional life.”

In this video, Parker talks about taking classes like Eco-psychology and Addictions Studies, being November Pain, and making sustainable choices to find balance in her personal and professional life.